Aluminum soap water-proofing composition and process of making the same



United States Patent ALUMINUM SOAP WATER-PROOFING COMPOSI- TION AND PROCESS OF MAKING THE SAME Joseph Cunder, East Orange, and Francis J. Licata, West Caldwell, N. J., assignors to Nopco Chemical Company, Harrison, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey No Drawing. Application December 11, 1956 Serial No. 627,555

9 Claims. (Cl. 106-243) The present invention relates to novel products containing water-insoluble soaps and process for their manufacture as well as waterproofing.compositions containing the same. More particularly, the present invention relates to compositions of water-insoluble aluminum soaps that are characterized by their increased solubility in organic solvents as compared with the solubility of the aluminum soap alone and further characterized by forming liquid solutions with such solvents.

The excellent waterproofing properties of the waterinsoluble soaps, such as aluminum stearate, etc., has long been recognized. Such soaps are preferably dissolved or dispersed in a suitable organic solvent, the resulting solution being applied to the desired surface in any suitable manner. While varying quantities of the water-insoluble soaps may be dispersed in hydrocarbon and other solvents with the aid of heat, it is known that such solvents will tolerate the presence of not more than about 2% or 3% soap and still remain fluid or freely flowing at normal temperatures. More than 2% or.3% of a water-insoluble soap can be dispersed in a solvent'but the mass solidifies to form a gel. Hence, the concentration of the soap in solution has been, by necessity, limited to insure a fluid product which is necessary to eifect proper impregnation and/or coating.

In an attempt to increase the concentration of waterinsoluble soap solutions in organic solvents, various peptizing or fiuidifying agents have been suggested, such as acetic acid and the ethanolamines. In view of the acidity and corrosive character and for other reasons, the use of acetic acid has been found to be highly objectionable. While the ethanolamines have been used with satisfactory results, these agents leave room for improvement.

It is an object to obtain improved water-insoluble aluminum soap compositions that may be advantageously employed as water-proofing agents.

A further object is to obtain water-insoluble aluminum soaps useful in water-proofing compositions, said compositions characterized by increased quantities of waterinsoluble aluminum soap present therein.

A still further object is to obtain waterproofing compositions that are fluid or freely flowing when containing large quantities of water-insoluble aluminum soap therein.

Further objects will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. It is intended, however, that the detailed description and the specific examples do not limit the invention, but merely indicate the preferred embodiments of the invention since various changes and modifications within the scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art.

The above objects and other objects are accomplished in the following manner. It has been unexpectedly discovered that when a water-soluble soap and a watersoluble phosphorous containing wetting agent in its salt or acid form are coprecipitated with a Water-soluble aluminum salt, a water-insoluble soap product results which is characterized by the fact that it is soluble in high coneentrations in organic solvents while the resulting solvent ice composition still maintains its fluid or freely flowable state. Moreover, these compositions are stable andare of good color.

To prepare the novel products of the present invention, a fatty acid is first saponified with a water-soluble base thereby forming a water-soluble soap. To this water soluble soap, a water-soluble salt or acid form of the aforementioned phosphorous containing wetting agent is added. Then, by employing a water-soluble aluminum salt, both the water-soluble soap and water-soluble wetting agent in admixture with each other are coprecipitated. The precipitate is then filtered, Washed, dried and ground. Thereafter it may be added to an organic solvent to form a freely flowing or fluid waterproofing composition containing increased amounts of aluminum soap. As aforesaid, these waterproofing co-mpositions are stable and are of good color.

Itis believed that the novel soap compositions prepared by coprecipitating a water-soluble soap of a fatty acid and a water-soluble phosphorous containing wetting agent with a water soluble aluminum salt are truly new compounds. These compounds are believed to contain an aluminum cation attached to the anionic portions of both the fatty acid and the wetting agent. Since aluminum is a trivalent cation, the novel soap compositions Will contain compounds having an unequal number of anions of the fatty acid and wetting agent attached to said cation. The above theory is substantiated by the fact that these novel soap compositions cannot be separated into their respective aluminum soaps and aluminum salts of the wetting agent. Even though the composition cannot be separated, it is further believed that there may also be present, in minute amounts and in intimate admixture With the above, aluminum soaps and aluminum salts of the wetting agent. Hence, the novel soap compositions may be referred to as a complex of an aluminum soap and an aluminum salt of a wetting agent.

Any suitable saturated fatty acid may be employed as a starting material e. g., saturated aliphatic monocarboxylic acids containing from about 8 to 22 carbon atoms, or mixtures thereof, a glyceride containing as a major constituent thereof saturated fatty acids having a carbon chain length of from about 8 to 22 carbon atoms, or their mixtures, or mixtures of the aforesaid fatty acids with said glycerides.

Thus, for example, palrnitic, stearic, arachidic, behenic, ethyl-hexoic, caproic acids or their mixtures can be used. Also glycerides of these and similar acids can be used. When saponified with e. g. sodium, potassium or ammo nium hydroxide, the respective Water soluble soaps of the aforementioned fatty acids or glycerides result. Also, sodium, potassium or ammonium soaps of the type produced from glycerides containing major quantities of such acids, as, for example, hydrogenated tallow, hydrogenated soybean oil, hydrogenated cottonseed oil, hydrogenated coconut oil, etc., or mixtures thereof can be employed.

Processes for the conversion of fatty acids or glycerides into their water-soluble soaps using an alkali are well 'known in the art. Generally, saponification is accomplished by reacting the fatty acid or glyceride with a base in the presence of a small quantity of water. Since watersoluble soaps produced by any of the prior art processes are fully suited for use in the present invention, nothing herein should be construed as limiting the present invention to the use of soaps by any one particular method.

To an aqueous solution or dispersion of any one or more of the above water-soluble soaps, preferably dilute, there is added a water-soluble salt or acid'form of a phosphorous containing wetting agent. Mixtures of these compounds are also encompassed herein. These compounds contain straight chain, branched chain and aryl substituents. The straight and branched chain substitu- 1 ents may contain from about 8 to 22 carbon atoms. The

aryl substituents may be derived from benzene, naphthalene, or derived from substituted aryl substituents such as toluene, xylene, isopropyl naphthalene, dodecyl benzene, etc. The chain length should not exceed about 22 carbon atoms in length. Examples of such phosphorous containing compounds are mono-dialkyl acid orthophosphates, e. g., mono-dimethyl orthophosphate, alkyl aryl phosphonates e. g. phenyl octyl phosphonate, benzene phosphenic acid and benzene phosphinic acid. Of particular value are alkyl polyphosphoric acid ester salts having the empirical formula Na R (P O in which R is a straight or branched chain hydrocarbon radical having from about 8 to 22 carbon atoms in the chain. These materials are best identified and described by reference to a particularly well known and commercially available member of this class. This member is a product of Victor Chemical Co., Chicago, Illinois, sold under the trade name Victawet 35-B. of pentasodium tripolyphosphate. It is sold as a paste containing approximately 30% moisture and has a light tan to white color. While this product is employed in the preferred embodiment of the invention, it must be under stood that the invention is not limited solely to its use. Any similar or comparable polyphosphoric acid esters may also be used. Also the potassium or amine salts thereof as well as the acid form can be used. The watersoluble compounds in which the ester group is an alkyl group containing from 8 to 22 carbon atoms in its chain may be used. Examples of such alkyl groups which may be straight or branched chain are capryl, Z-ethylhexyl, etc.

The quantity of soluble salt or acid form of the aforementioned phosphorous containing compounds that may be employed herein may vary widely i. e. from about /2% to 50% by weight based upon the dry weight of the water-soluble soap. Preferably about based upon the dry weight of the water-soluble soap, is employed. Additionally, the solid composition may contain in minor amounts other solid constituents such as plasticizers, softeners, dyes, pigments and the like.

The resulting solution containing both the water-soluble soap and a water-soluble wetting agent is then treated with an aluminum salt such as aluminum sulfate. This brings about coprecipitation of the water-soluble soap and Water-soluble wetting agent. There is obtained, in other words, a complex of a water-insoluble aluminum metallic soap and a water-insoluble aluminum salt of the aforesaid wetting agent.

Coprecipitation may be accomplished by gradually adding a heated aqueous solution of a water-soluble salt of aluminum to the above solution. If desired, however, this sequence can be reversed. The invention, however, is not limited to aluminum sulfate as the precipitating agent. Any other aluminum salt can be employed provided it is soluble in water at the temperature at which it is to be used and, provided further that it will form a water-insoluble complex with the water-soluble soap and watersoluble phosphorous containing wetting agent present in the aqueous solution. Generally, the solution of the aluminum salt precipitant contains about by weight of water-soluble aluminum salt. However, the concentration of the salt solution employed to accomplish the precipitation has little effect, if any, upon the production of the precipitated composition of the invention or the properties thereof. Thus, if desired, aqueous solutions containing more or less than 20% by weight of water-soluble aluminum salt can be employed. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the precipitation step is accomplished by adding an aqueous solution of aluminum sulfate, heated to a temperature of from about C. to about 95 C., to the heated solution containing the watersoluble soap and salt mixture. However, the invention is not to be construed as limited to compositions precipitated at temperatures within that specific range.

The quantity of aluminum salt employed to accomplish It is the 2-ethylhexyl ester iii) (iii

the precipitation should be at least sufficient to react with all of the water-soluble soap and salts present in the solution. While the use of a stoichiometrically equivalent quantity of aluminum salt solution should obviate the possibility that any water-soluble soap or watersoluble wetting agent will be occluded in the precipitated product, an excess quantity can be, and is, at times, preferably employed.

After precipitation has been accomplished, the product can be separated from the aqueous solution in which it is dispersed by any convenient means. Usually, this step is accomplished by passing the dispersion through a suitable filter. The filtered product is subsequently washed several times in water to remove residual Water-soluble salts present. The washing step is ordinarily carried out in water heated to a temperature of from about 40 C. to about 70 C. After washing, the product is dried, generally in an oven heated to a temperature of from about F. to 180 F.', and, subsequently ground, by appropriate means, to a fine white powder.

The resulting solid product, i. e., the complex of a water-insoluble aluminum soap and water-insoluble aluminum salt of phosphorous containing wetting agent, although insoluble and not dispersible in water, is highly soluble in organic solvents. These solvents are e. g., aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbons, chlorinated hydrocarbons or other suitable solvents which include, for instance, toluene, benzene, xylene, petroleum spirits, gasoline, terpenes, carbon tetrachloride, trichlorethane, etc. or any suitable mixture of these or other solvents. Solutions for water-proofing, characterized by being liquid or fluid at normal temperatures and containing up to 50% by weight or more of water-insoluble soap, may be produced by dissolving the said composition of the present invention in a suitable solvent.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of this invention reference is made to the following examples which are given merely to illustrate the invention and are not to be construed in a limiting sense.

EXAMPLE I 340 grams of a commercial stearic acid was charged into a vessel and saponified with 63.3 grams of sodium hydroxide. The resulting sodium stearate was diluted with and dissolved in 6800 grams of water thereby forming a 5% solution of the soap. Thereafter, 95.5 grams of Victawet 35-13 which is sold containing approximately 30% moisture and which is the 2-ethylhexyl ester of pentasodium tripolyphosphate was added to the above solution and dissolved therein. To the solution of sodium stearate and Victawet 35-43, 209 grams of aluminum sulfate was added in order to bring about precipitation of the two aforementioned constituents. Precipitation was accomplished at a temperature of 62 C. The mixture was continuously stirred during the addition of aluminum sulfate and for twenty minutes thereafter. The precipitated material was then separated by filtration. The pH of the mother liquor was between 4 and 5. The precipitated material, after filtration was washed with 6200 grams of water at 40 C. for twenty minutes. This wash was repeated for a total of three times so that any water-soluble salts that may have been present were removed. Then the precipitate was dried in an oven at a temperature of F. for twenty-four hours. This dried material was ground through a As inch screen. The product was a fine white powdery material. 7

The following data were determined upon analysis of the composition of Example I:

Moisture "percent" 0.6 Total ash do 13.1 Washed ash do 13.0 Soluble ash do 0.1 M. P C 93-112 The procedures for the above analysis are described inJMetasap Metallic Soaps, published by Metasap' Ch rhicalCoI, Harrison, New Jersey,-.copyrightfI940,Qre vised- 1953, pages 20-22. r

The following examples clearlyillustratethe discovery that the novel soaps described herein are..unexpectedly soluble in increased amountsin organicsolvents while the solvent containing same still remains in a. liquid state.

' EXAMPLE II A solution containing 30% by weight of thecompo'sition of'Example I and 70% by weight of Amsco Solvent F was prepared by dissolving the aforesaid composition of Example I'in the solvent at a'tempera'ture of 190 1 The solution was allowedto 'coolto r'oom temperature. At room temperature. there was observed a clearfluid which gave a value of 430" seconds through a 5 inch Ford Cup. The viscosity was alsodetermined by using a'Brookfield Snychro-Letric Viscosimeter (-Variable Speed LV Model, #3, spindle, #30 speed) -manufactured 'by Brookfield Engineering Laboratories, Sharon, Mass. The viscosity was found to be 200 centipoises. The viscosity for similar solutions has been found to vary from 200 to 700; centipoises depending upon the ratio of soap and wetting agent used to form these novel soap compositions as well as upon the ratio of soap composition added to the organic solvent.

Amsco-Solvent F, employed hereina's wellas in several other examples has the following properties:

The Ford Cup for determining the consistency of liquid materials is employed in accordance with the method developedby'theFord' Motor CoI', 'Paint Division; The apparatus consists of a plastic cup with a conical bottom having a standard' inch'orifice. To run the test, the cup is inserted in a ring of a "support stand and maintained in a level position. A suitable receptacle is placed under the cup and about 6 inches below it, i. e., far

enough below so that a streamcan be observed. The orifice is closed with the finger and the cup filled to'overflowing with the material to be tested. *Any surplus material is caught by an annular overflow well at the top of the cup. A stop watch isstarted the instant the finger is removed and stopped theniomentth e solid stream breaks at the orifice. The elapsed time is the viscosity.

' EXAMPLE III A solution of 5% by weight of aluminum stearate in Amsco Solvent F was prepared by dissolving the soap at elevated temperature in the -solvent. A heavynonflowing gel resulted at room temperature.

The following examples were prepared in the same manner as'Example I. The analysesemployed are described in the aforementioned publication relating to metallic-soaps and gives some of the properties of these materials. It should be noted, however, that in the gel tests, benzol and vvarsol have replacedtoluol. The 5% benzol gel strength test was determined by recording the time required-for a 100 gram quantity of a 5% gel to flow through a glass funnel having a 4-inch top diameter and Aa-inch small diameter.

Example IV V VI VII Grams Stearic Acid 85. 0 90. 0 95.0 97. 5 Grams Soda. 15. 8 16. 75 17. 6 18. 1 Grams Aluminum Sulfate 52. 2 55.0 53. 75 53. 0 Grams Victawet 35B (30% moisture) 29. 3 15. 9 7. 9 4. 0

Analysis Example IV V VI VII Percent Total Ash 14. 0 12. 4 10. 2 8.8 Percent Washed Ash 13. 9 12. 3 l0. 1 8.7 Percent Soluble Ash 0. 1 0. 1 0. 1 0.1 Percent Free Stearie Acid 20 15 5% Benzol Gel Temp. F... -123 108-119 105-125 103-116 5% Benzol Gel Strength, Sec. 1 1 5% Varsol Gel Temp, F -160 143-160 140-160 137-160 The following examples illustrate the successful incorporation of large quantities of aluminum soap that can be dissolved in an organic solvent when practicing the' present invention. The ingredients were dissolved at elevated temperatures and the fluidity of the resulting solutions determined at room temperature. The amount of soap that can be dissolved in the organic solvent while still maintaining a fluid or liquid composition varies from about /2% to 50% by weight of the total composition.

Example VIII which employs the unexpectedly large amount of aluminum soap in an organic solvent gave a value of 107 minutes through a inch Ford Cup.

The following examples illustrate the superior waterproofing properties of the present invention.

EXAMPLE XV A square of cardboard was immersed in a solution containing 30% by weight of the composition of Example I, and 70% by weight of Amsco Solvert F and thereafter allowed to air dry. A flexible film was produced and the treated cardboard was found to be waterproof. A comparable square of cardboard that was not treated was found to 'be Water absorbent, i. e. not Waterproof.

EXAMPLE XVI A square of white paper stock base wasv coated with 0.003 inch wet film made with a solution containing 10% by weight of the composition of Example I dissolved in 70% by weight of Amsco Solvent F. A Bird film applicater manufactured by Bird and Son, Inc, East Walpole, Massachusetts, and described in Patent No. 2,151,183, was employed for this purpose. Upon drying, a very light film resulted which made the sample of paper water-repellent.

To further demonstrate the superior waterproofing properties of the present invention the AATCC Standard Test Method 22-52 (1954), Spray Test, was carried out on cotton sheeting cloth. The cloth was immersed in the following solutions. The rating is based upon 100 as a maximum which is equal to complete waterproofing.

Example by Weight of Soap Dissolved Rating in Amsco Solvent F XVII Aluminum Stearate 70 XVIII Product of Example I 70 Percent by weight Aluminum stearate 5 Ethanol 5 Amsco Solvent F 90 An alternative procedure for obtaining an improved waterproofing agent is as follows. An aluminum soap and an aluminum salt of a phosphorous-containing wetting agent are prepared separately. Thereafter, these two materials are added to the solvent in the desired proportions thereby forming a waterproofing solution. The following example is directed to this alternative procedure.

EXAMPLE XIX A solution was prepared containing 100 grams of Victawet 35-B (which is sold containing approximately moisture) and 900 grams of water.

A second solution containing grams of aluminum sulfate dissolved in 140 grams of water was also prepared. The two solutions were admixed at 30 C. in order to precipitate the aluminum salt of Victawet 35-B. In this manner a coarse white precipitate was obtained. It was washed and dried. Thereafter, a waterproofing solution was made up as follows. 25.5 grams of aluminum stearate and 4.5 grams of the above aluminum salt of Victawet 35-B were mixed together and then added to 70 grams of Amsco Solvent F. This mixture was heated at 190 F. to 200 F. and upon cooling to room temperature, a clear, slightly yellowish fluid resulted. This fluid thus contained 30% by weight of a waterproofing agent obtained by mixing together 85% by weight aluminum stearate and 15% by weight of the aluminum salt of Victawet 35-B. The viscosity of the solution was determined by employing a Brookfield Syncro-Lectric Viscosimeter (Variable Speed LV model, #3 spindle, #30 speed). The viscosity was found to be 400 centipoises.

In this alternative procedure, the proportions of the aluminum salt of the phosphorous-containing compounds, and the aluminum soap may vary widely. The quantities employed may be based upon the equivalent amounts of water-soluble soap and water-soluble wetting agent of the co-precipitation procedure. Any of the previously described wetting agents may be employed to produce the aluminum salt. Similarly, any of the previously described saturated fatty acids may be used as the anion of the aluminum soap.

As indicated by the foregoing, novel soap compositions have been developed having exceptional utility in the coating arts. For instance, in the waterproofing of textiles, these novel soaps clearly demonstrate the value of their ability to dissolve in large quantities in organic solvents without gel formation.

Heretofore, solutions containing metallic soap were limited to 2% or 3% by weight of the total while the remainder comprised the solvent. Consequently, excessive costs arose due to the necessity of employing large quantities of solvent. Transporting a material containing about 97% diluent or solvent brought about increases in cost. Such materials had to be stored by both manufacturer and user. Thus excessive storage space was reflected in higher costs. The presence of large quantities of solvent also presented hazards, both from the, standpoint of flammability and from the standpoint of toxicity to the individuals handling the materials. Removal and recovery of the solvent due to the presence of large amounts thereof was necessary. This called for recovery equipment and moreover added to the aforementioned hazards as well as to the costs of the user.

The soap compositions of the present invention, on the contrary, can be present in an amount /2% to by weight of the total soap-solvent composition. Whereas,

, about 49 parts by weight of solvent was necessary for each part by weight of soap (2% concentration), it is now only necessary to employ one part by weight of solvent for each part by weight of soap (50% concentration). Hence, the resulting economies in freight and storage costs, the reduction in hazards and in the recovery procedures are considerable.

Although in many instances, it is preferred to dilute the concentrated compositions of the soap and solvent' before use, there are instances wherein such concentrated solutions may be used directly for waterproofing. Such will, of course, reduce even more the necessity of handling large quantities of solvent which, in fact, adds only tothe cost of operation as shown above.

It will be appreciated that various modifications can be made in the invention described above and such are within the scope of the present invention as defined in the claims.

Having described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A composition of matter comprising a complex of an aluminum stearate and the aluminum salt obtained from the Z-ethylhexyl ester of pentasodium tripolyphosphate, said complex having been obtained by coprecipitating a Water-soluble soap of said stearate and from /2% to 50% by weight, based on the dry weight of said water-soluble stearate soap, of the 2-ethylhexyl ester of pentasodium tripolyphosphate with a water-soluble aluminum salt, said composition characterized by its increased solubility in hydrocarbon solvents relative to the solubility of aluminum stearate alone and further characterized by said composition forming fluid, concentrated solutions with said hydrocarbon solvents.

2. A composition of matter comprising a complex of an aluminum stearate and the aluminum salt obtained from the 2-ethylhexyl ester of pentasodium tripolyphosphate, said complex having been obtained by coprecipitating a water-soluble soap of said stearate and about 15% by weight, based on the dry weight of said water-soluble stearate soap, of the 2-ethylhexyl ester of pentasodium tripolyphosphate with a water-soluble aluminum salt, said composition characterized by its increased solubility in hydrocarbon solvents relative to the solubility of aluminum stearate alone and further characterized by said composition forming freely flowing concentrated solutions with said hydrocarbon solvents.

3. A process for producing a composition comprising a complex of aluminum stearate and the aluminum salt obtained from the Z-ethylhexyl ester of pentasodium tripolyphosphate comprising the steps of forming in dilute aqueous solution a mixture of a water-soluble soap of said stearate and from /2% to 50% by weight, based on the dry weight of said water-soluble soap from which said aluminum soap is obtained, said composition characterized by its increased solubility in hydrocarbon solvents relative to the solubility of said aluminum soap alone and further characterized by said composition forming fluid, concentrated solutions with said hydrocarbon solvents.

4. A process for producing a composition comprising a complex of aluminum stearate and the aluminum salt obtained from the Z-ethylhexyl ester of pentasodium tripolyphosphate comprising the steps of forming in dilute aqueous solution a mixture of a water-soluble soap of said stearate and about 15% by weight, based on the dry weight of said water-soluble stearate soap, of the 2-ethylhexyl ester of pentasodium tripolyphosphate, coprecipitating said mixture with a water-soluble aluminum salt and thereafter collecting and drying the resulting precipitate.

5. A composition of matter selected from the group consisting of a mixture of and a complex of an aluminum soap of a saturated fatty acid having a carbon chain length of from about 8 to 22 carbon atoms and an aluminum salt obtained from the 2-ethylhexyl ester of pentasodium tripolyphosphate, the proportions thereof being from 1 about /2% to 50% by Weight of the 2-ethylhexyl ester of pentasodium tripolyphosphate from which said aluminum salt is obtained based upon the dry weight of the water-soluble stearate soap, of the 2-ethylhexyl ester of pentasodium tripolyphosphate, coprecipitating said mixture with a water-soluble aluminum salt and thereafter collecting and drying the resulting precipitate.

6. A composition of matter comprising a complex of an aluminum soap of a saturated fatty acid having a carbon chain length of from about 8 to 22 carbon atoms and the aluminum salt obtained from the 2-ethylhexyl ester of pentasodium tripolyphosphate, said complex having been obtained by coprecipitating a water-soluble soap of said fatty acid and from /2% to 50% by weight, based on the dry weight of said water-soluble soap, of the 2-ethylhexyl ester of pentasodium tripolyphosphate with a water-soluble aluminum salt, said composition characterized by its increased solubility in hydrocarbon solvents relative to the solubility of aluminum stearate alone and further characterized by said composition forming fluid, concentrated solutions with said hydrocarbon solvents.

7. A composition of matter comprising a complex of an aluminum soap of a saturated fatty acid having a .10 carbon chain length of from about 8 to 22 carbon atoms and the aluminum salt obtained from the 2-ethylhexyl ester of pentasodium tripolyphosphate, said complex having been obtained by coprecipitating a water-soluble soap of said fatty acid and about 15% by weight, based on the dry weight of said water-soluble soap, of the 2-ethylhexyl ester of pentasodium tripolyphosphate with a watersoluble aluminum salt, said composition characterized by its increased solubility in hydrocarbon solvents relative to the solubility of aluminum stearate alone and further characterized by said composition forming freely flowing concentrated solutions with said hydrocarbon solvents.

8. A process for producing a composition comprising a complex of an aluminum soap of a saturated fatty acid having a carbon chain length of from about 8 to 22 carbon atoms and the aluminum salt obtained from the Z-ethylhexyl ester of pentasodium tripolyphosphatecomprising the steps of forming in dilute aqueous solution a mixture of a water-soluble soap of said fatty acid and from /2% to 50% by weight, based on the dry weight of said water-soluble soap, of the 2-ethylhexyl ester of pentasodium tripolyphosphate, coprecipitating said mixture with a water-soluble aluminum salt and there- References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Cunder et a1. Jan. 10, 1950 OTHER REFERENCES Zimmerman et al.: Handbook of Materials and Trad Names (1953), page 604. 

6. A COMPOSITION OF MATTER COMPRISING A COMPLEX OF AN ALUMINUM SOAP OF A SATURATED FATTY ACID HAVING A CARBON CHAIN LENGTH OF FROM ABOUT 8 TO 22 CARBON ATOMS AND THE ALUMINUM SALT OBTAINED FROM THE 2-ETHYLHEXYL ESTER OF PENTASODIUM TRIPOLYPHOSPHATE, SAID COMPLEX HAVING BEEN OBTAINED BY COPRECIPITATING A WATER-SOLUBLE SOAP OF SAID FATTY ACID AND FROM 1/2% TO 50% BY WEIGHT, BASED ON THE DRY WEIGHT OF SAID WATER-SOLUBLE SOAP, OF THE 2-ETHYLHEXYL ESTER OF PENTASODIUM TRIPOLYPHOSPHATE WITH A WATER-SOLUBLE ALUMINUM SALT, SAID COMPOSITION CHARACTERIZED BY ITS INCREASED SOLUBILITY IN HYDROCARBON SOLVENTS RELATIVE TO THE SOLUBILITY OF ALUMINUM STEARATE ALONE AND FURTHER CHARACTERIZED BY SAID COMPOSITION FORMING FLUID, CONCENTRATED SOLUTIONS WITH SAID HYDROCARBON SOLVENTS. 